The difference between pyramid schemes and Ponzi schemes is in the methodology. Pyramid schemes rely on multiple levels of investors, each promising exorbitant returns to the succeeding level, whereas Ponzi schemes feature a central figure who promises exorbitant returns to all investors.

Entrepreneur and music extraordinaire Yevgeniya Lepskaya has overcome many challenges to open up her own school of music in Park Ridge, Illinois. I recently interviewed Yevgeniya and asked her about her challenges, successes, motivation, and small business advice.

We keep hearing Washington tell us that the recession is coming to an end, citing signs of wonder but always with the caveat that the economy could still get worse, and a look at unemployment, retail sales and the opinions of corporate CFOs—who have to work with the economy every day—assures us that it will.

NASA's search for a commercial vendor that can handle the engineering and operation of cargo rockets for the International Space Station is bringing small and mid-sized businesses into what was once the sole domain of NASA and the Air Force and stands as a tribute to the quality, innovation and low-cost that small business can deliver.